Professor Soothes Baby, Charms The Whole World

Young children and university lectures don't usually go together. Babies have a tendency to cry, and college classrooms are considered sacred spaces of learning where silence is golden when a professor pontificates. That's not the case for Sydney Engelberg, a professor at Jerusalem's Hebrew University who charmed the world this week when a photo of him soothing a baby while lecturing went viral. 

According to an interview by Rachel Zarrell on Buzzfeed, Engelberg's daughter Sarit Fishbaine said the veteran professor teaches a master's degree program that includes a lot of older students. He encourages young mothers to bring their babies to class. Recently, when Engelberg was in the middle of class, one of these mothers tried to leave when her baby started crying and wouldn't calm down, Fishbaine explained to Buzzfeed. Engelberg insisted she stay, took the child in his arms, and managed to calm him down. Engelberg finished the lecture on organizational behavior while holding the baby. Fishbaine told Buzzfeed their family was surprised by the response the photo got after someone posted it on Imgur. Yahoo Parenting reports that Engelberg's wife, Fredi Siskind Engelberg, says he's been getting lots of love letters since the incident. Who doesn't love a man who's good with a baby? In an age when women struggle to balance work, education, and personal obligations, it's encouraging to see a man step up and help. Engelberg's actions have a stronger message than many of the best university lectures: You don't have to completely separate your career and your family, and if we were all just a little more understanding of the struggles faced by new parents, the world might be a more productive place. Plus, it's impossible to resist a cutie in footie pajamas.